God Works All Things For Good
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, help me to have your peace and comfort during tough times. Amen.
READ:
“When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, ‘What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?’” Genesis 50:15
“His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. ‘We are your slaves,’ they said. But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” Genesis 50:18-21
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
REFLECT:
The last year has been like none most of us of us have experienced. We have been through so many things with the pandemic, sheltering in place, political unrest, loss of jobs and so much more, it is hard to believe that God can make good come out of it.
I am reminded of a similar time in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with the unpopular Vietnam War, political unrest, and extremely high inflation rates. We were wondering if things could get worse and along came “Watergate”, which led to President Nixon resigning. Out of the midst of all this God brought good that benefited many people in the United States and the world. One of the key players in the Watergate scandal was Charles W. Colson, who was known as Nixon’s “Hatchet Man”. As a presidential advisor he was ruthless, mean, and cleaned up President Nixon’s messes.
He pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and was sentenced to federal prison. In 1973, shortly before going to federal prison, a friend gave him a copy of C. S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. This led to his conversion to evangelical Christianity. This experience, coupled with his time in prison, led him to create Prison Fellowship International which took the message of Christ to imprisoned men and women throughout the United States and many countries around the world.
Wikipedia sums up his life this way:
“Colson became an evangelical Christian in 1973. His mid-life religious conversion sparked a radical life change that led to the founding of his non-profit ministry, Prison Fellowship International to a focus on Christian worldview teaching and training around the world. Colson was also a public speaker and the author of more than 30 books.”
As with Joseph’s experience, God used the Watergate scandal to make something good happen.
APPLY:
I am not sure how God is going to make good out of 2020, but I know that he will. I can say I have seen some positive things happen. Take time to write down some ways you have seen God work some positives out of 2020.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord, help to remember your promise in Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Amen.
WORSHIP: